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If you’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, you may assume there’s little you can do to manage your condition. But that’s not true. There’s plenty of changes you can make to your everyday life. Diet is especially key.
If you have heart failure—or even if you don’t—follow these good-for-you nutritional habits.
Sources: American Heart Association. Lifestyle Ch... + 23
- American Heart Association. Lifestyle Changes for Heart Failure. Page last reviewed May 31, 2017.
- American Heart Association. The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. Page last reviewed November 1, 2021.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Heart-Healthy Living: Choose Heart-Healthy Foods. Accessed on June 26, 2023.
- American Heart Association. Whole Grains, Refined Grains, and Dietary Fiber. Page last reviewed November 1, 2021.
- American Heart Association. Healthy Cooking Oils. Page last reviewed April 24, 2018.
- Wickman BE, Enkhmaa B, Ridberg R, et al. Dietary Management of Heart Failure: DASH Diet and Precision Nutrition Perspectives. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 10;13(12):4424.
- Mayo Clinic. DASH diet: Sample menus. May 31, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to Reduce Sodium Intake. Page last reviewed August 23, 2022.
- UCSF Health. Diet and Congestive Heart Failure. Accessed on June 24, 2023.
- Grillo A, Salvi L, Coruzzi P, et al. Sodium Intake and Hypertension. Nutrients. 2019 Aug 21;11(9):1970.
- Mayo Clinic. Edema: Overview. January 4, 2023.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sodium Intake and Health. Page last reviewed June 6, 2023.
- American Heart Association. Why Should I Limit Sodium? 2021.
- American Heart Association. How to Add Flavor Using Herbs and Spices [Video]. Page last reviewed April 24, 2018.
- American College of Cardiology, CardioSmart. How to Shake the Salt Habit. Page last edited March 31, 2019.
- American Heart Association. 7 Salty Sodium Myths Busted [Infographic]. 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Heart failure—fluids and diuretics. Page last reviewed August 23, 2022.
- Andersson C, Schou M, Gustafsson F, et al. Alcohol Intake in Patients with Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure: Consensus and Controversy. Circulation: Heart Failure. 2022 May;15(8).
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Drinking Levels Defined. Accessed on June 24, 2023.
- American Heart Association. Is Drinking Alcohol Part of a Healthy Lifestyle? Page last reviewed December 30, 2019.
- American Heart Association. Caffeine and Heart Disease. Page last reviewed April 17, 2014.
- Bodar V, Chen J, Gaziano M, et al. Coffee Consumption and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in the Physician’s Health Study. JAHA. 2019 Aug;8(15).
- American Heart Association. Saturated Fat. Page last reviewed November 1, 2021.
- American Heart Association. Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Page last reviewed November 1, 2021.
